(Hope’s phone buzz’s and we see CYNTHIA on the corner of the stage, saying what’s in the text)
Cynthia: Hey, I uh-look, I’m sorry to bother you but I heard you were at Bree’s house with Liz and Ally and I um, okay look. I know that you haven’t been around them much, but they’re awful. Actually I take that back, Liz and Bree are minor annoyances, it’s Ally you need to be worried about!
(The royals freeze and Hope answers the text out loud, the conversation continues like this)
Hope: They invited me to be a royal, Cynthia! Isn’t that great?
Cynthia: NO! Are you kidding me, you’re so much better than they are. You’re kind and sweet and caring. You’re not like them, you’re so-
So you think you’re an equal
That you’re something they are?
Can’t you see they’re monsters, hidden well within the stars.
They’ve taken girls, and ripped them apart.
Don’t you see Hope, that you’ll be done from the start.
You like (is there another word here maybe?) they are different?
Some special kind of breed.
Like something from a movie
Well now you’re the lead
This story is different
Because you don’t have to take their hand
You’ve got to do something
Or they’ll have you on demand.
You’ve got to raise the bar
Show them you’re not who they are
C’mon Hope you’re better than you know
I’ll pick you up let’s go!
Hope: No!
Cynthia: So fine you’re an equal? That’s it?
Now you’ve decided the match is lit.
You’ll burn down this whole town when you go
Cause you’re determined you’re equal
When you said no.
So now you’re evil, you’d go that far?
To make sure you get to be who they are
Hope you’ve got to be kidding me
This is all a lie
You’ve got to be joking
You’d rather die?
You’ve got to raise the bar
Show them you’re not who they are
C’mon Hope you’re better than you know
Please don’t make a new foe
Cause you’ve got to raise the bar
That’s the only way to go so far
Please Hope Winter, come with me
You’ll be better off you see
Hope: Leave me alone.
(Lights blackout on Cynthia, and she exits. BREE, LIZ and ALLY all turn to HOPE.
Ally: So, you wanna be...one of us?
Hope: (moment of resistance occurs, but she fights it) More than anything.
Bree: Well...
If you wanna be a royal you gotta give up all your senses
Gotta be the girl to do as I say.
Ally:
Can't give up on the team when there's too many expenses
The team is loyal no matter how much you have to pay
Liz:
Royals have a reputation and you have to uphold it
You can't cave in when the pressure gets too steep
Bree:
So you, you got to see this through
Can't look for something new
When you've already joined
Liz:
And You, you have to get in line
Bree comes first, and you're behind
Royals:
Fresh blood is always the reddest
Fresh meat is always the bomb
But is she the finest of the apples
Something about her seems wrong
Is she the hottest of the hottest
Is the the girl that we want near
Is she the brightest of the bunch we choose from
Or is she the girl we've always feared
Bree:
She's a little firecracker
Is her bite more than her bark
I don't want someone too fiesty
It'd be bad from the start
Ally:
I don't like the looks of this chick
She seems a little too new
I think she needs more time
Before she joins the chosen few
Liz:
I think that she's lovely
A special kind of girl
Why don't we try her out
Let's give her a whirl
Hope:
Will I lower the bar
Show them I'm exactly who they are
Is it worth it to me
For some popularity
Royals:
If you wanna be a royal get on your feet
Come with us
And you'll see
Royals are a different kind of species
A different kind of life form on this earth
If you wanna join us, sign our contract and we'll leave
(ALLY pulls a thick packet of paper out of her backpack and hands it to HOPE)
Ally:
Sign over your life and we'll give you a new one
Who cares about the life you knew?
A one with us is bigger and brighter!
One that not everyone can choose.
Liz: So what do you say?
Hope: Okay!
(Hope signs the contract)
Blackout
Scene 2
(All girls stand on stage together, talking)
Liz: I’m sure that’s not true
Ally: I’m serious, you should see the way that she looks at him.
Liz: Them.
Ally: Excuse me?
Liz: They use they/them pronouns.
Ally: Okay whatever, the way she looks at them.
Liz: I’m sure she has a reasonable explanation…
Ally: I’m sure.
(ALLY goes around and whispers in the girls ears)
Girls:
Jaydin. Jaydin. Hope’s in love with Jaydin (Oh my god)
Jaydin, Hope’s in love with Jaydin (oh my god)
Jaydin. Hope’s in love with Jaydin.
Ally:
Can you believe it?
Girls:
I can’t believe it.
That’s Bree’s ex.
Who will be next
First she becomes a royal
Now she’s in love with-
Hope:
Jaydin. Jaydin I look in your eyes and I see the universe in whole.
Girls:
Oh my god.
Hope:
Oh Jaydin, do you see me too?
Inner Voices:
Do you see us too?
Hope:
Do you see me too?
Oh, dang. I see you across the hall. And I’m like woah
The rumours were true. You’re just as beautiful as you lead on.
Wow. You light up the room when you walk in.
It’s a shame you don’t know my name
That’s it!
I’ll tell them my name.
Hi. Hello. Hi nice to meet you, I’m Hope. Hope Winter. Are you good you seem fine.
Damn you’re fine.
Oh- I uh.
Hi. I’m Hope.
No.
Why is this so hard it should be easy.
Their just a normal kid
With killer abs
Hi. I’m Hope. You’re
Jaydin
You’re Jaydin and I like you.
But you would never notice me no matter how I try
So I’ll stand here, in the hallway
Pretending that you’re mine.
Jaydin.
I like you so.
Alice: Hey, Hope right?
Hope: Yeah. I’m sure you’re here to ask me about Jaydin, right?
Alice: What, no!
Hope: Oh that’s a relief.
Alice: I’m here to ask you about John.
Hope: John?
Alice: About 5’4”, cotton green jacket?
Hope: Okay?
(ALICE is burning with anger and HOPE is incredibly confused)
Alice: Okay? You’re not going to apologize?
Hope: What? Apologize for what?
Alice: For being a- a jerk.
Hope: I’m sorry I’ve never seen me before in my life and you think I’m a-
Alice: You kissed my boyfriend!
Hope: I’m sorry what?
Alice: John. You kissed John.
Hope: I didn’t kiss anyone, let alone your boyfriend.
Alice: That’s exactly what someone who kissed my boyfriend would say.
Hope: I didn’t kiss your boyfriend!
Alice:
Honey, you’re on the wrong path
I can tell by the way you looked at him that you’ll never have him
Cause he is mine and I am his
And I love him with every bone in my body
I love him
And he loves me
It’s perfectly healthy and not obsessive at all
I love him and he will love me forever
So girl don’t walk around me, like I’m nothing
Like he’s a free man cause he’s not
Honey you picked the wrong girl to mess with
He’s all I got and I’m his only girl
So don’t tell me that you’re just a friend when clearly you have these feelings
But I know
But I know that you don’t mean to cross me
Honey, I know it’s not your bad intentions
But honey, you gotta know you cannot have him
Cause he’s my boy
And I’ve loved him since the fourth grade
And now I have him, which is totally absurd
So I’ve been wondering is he mine completely
And you come around and answer that for me
And I’m disappointed but frankly I knew the whole time
That he’s not always mine
So did he flirt
Did he ask you to date him
I wouldn’t be surprised if he did
Cause he’s a cheater
But I love him
And I am his and he is mine
For now
This is not a shitty love song
It’s the one that I have written on my own
With my life
And it’s not a silly love song
It’s the one that I have written with my heart and soul and mind
Please don’t take the boy
Even though you know you have him
Please don’t take the boy
Even though you know you know he’s yours
Cause right now I am happy when he lays in my arms
Please don’t take him from me
Hope, Please don’t take him from me
Hope, Please don’t take him from me
Even though you can take him
Cause he is mine, and I am his
Please just let me have this moment with my boy
Please
He is mine and I am his
For now
Hope: Look, Alice, I swear I didn’t kiss John.
Alice: Cross your heart?
Hope: Cross my heart.
Alice: He said you kissed him.
Hope: I’ve never even spoken to him, I’m sorry I-
Alice: He’s trying to break up with me isn’t he?
Hope: Like I said, I’ve never even spoken to hi-
Alice: I knew it. I’m a terrible girlfriend. He’ll never love me, ever. I hate everything Hope, I hate everything.
ALICE cries, and hangs onto HOPE. HOPE is visibly uncomfortable
Alice: Everyone hates me.
Hope: I’m sure that not true.
Alice: You think so?
Hope: Uh- yeah.
Alice: You promise?
Hope: Sure.
(ALICE’s phone rings, it’s JOHN, she immediately stops crying and answers the phone)
Alice: Heyyyyy baby.
(HOPE looks out, confused)
Blackout
Scene 3
HOPE arrives at a party in shorts and a t-shirt. The music is blaring as she enters. She walks around, grabs a drink from someone and walks around some more, clearly out of place. Everyone is dressed up. JOHN approaches her.
John: Hey cutie
Hope: Uh- I. I- uh. You told your girlfriend I kissed you. I didn’t kiss you.
John: Maybe it was a wish.
Hope: A wish?
John: Yeah, like I said I kissed you in hopes I could kiss you now. (JOHN laughs wildly)
Hope: You’re drunk.
John: And you’re here
Hope: I’m here?
John: No one asked you to come. You need to be dolled up.
Hope: Bree did. And nobody told me that.
John: Ohhh. Okay. (He laughs again)
Hope: I should go, I need to find Bree anyway.
HOPE starts to leave but JOHN grabs her arm
John: I heard you like a boy.
Hope: Well not actually a boy they actually go by-
John: Do you like him?
Hope: Them.
John: (He laughs while speaking) Do you like them.
Hope: I do, very much so.
John: So if they asked you’d out you’d say-
Hope: Yes! A million times yes!
JOHN smiles, and he now thinks he and HOPE are a couple.
Hope: Well I actually better go and y’know. Find Bree. So I’m just gonna-
HOPE leaves, in a hurry. JOHN makes a “cha-ching” motion with his arm
BREE enters and is shocked by HOPES outfit and grabs her arm.
Hope: What the hell are you-
Bree: I said dress nicely!
Hope: I did! These are nice shorts!
Bree: Are you kidding me?
Hope: I’m sorry, I misunderstood.
Bree: You’re lucky. I have dresses upstairs.
Hope: Um, okay. Thanks, I guess.
BREE drags HOPE upstairs. The scene shifts to a bedroom.
Bree: Here take this.
BREE throws HOPE a black, off the shoulder dress. HOPE doesn’t catch it and picks it off the ground. HOPE goes behind a structure and changes.
Bree: Oh, hey so my boyfriend thinks you’re cute.
Hope: Oh cool. Do all royals have boyfriends or something.
Bree: Ah! Perfect segway, you actually need to get a boyfriend, like now.
Hope: A boyfriend?
Bree: Yeah. Or a girlfriend or like whatever. It’s like an unspoken rule, but I’m speaking it.
Hope: How soon.
Bree: Like. I don’t know, but very soon. Or you’re out.
HOPE exits the structure, looking absolutely stunning. You can see the terror of losing her popularity.
Bree: Aw cute.
Hope: You think so?
Bree: I know so.
Hope: Oh- uh- about that boyfriend thing-
Bree: Go! Go downstairs and meet one.
BREE exits. Seconds pass before JOHN enters.
John: Wow.
HOPE turns around, surprised to see him there
Hope: Yeah.
John: You look-
Hope: Dolled up?
John: Yeah.
JOHN gets close to HOPE, almost too close.
John: And to think you’re all mine.
Hope: Um-I beg your pardon.
John: You. All mine. Remember?
Hope: No, no I don’t remember.
John: You said if that person, that special someone asked you out. You’d say yes.
Hope: No, no, I was talking about Jay- (She pauses remembering she has to have a boyfriend to be with the royals) YOU! I was definitely talking about you!
John: You’re silly. (He moves closer)
Hope: You’re really drunk.
John: Am I?
Hope: Yes- you are.
John: So.
JOHN pulls on the shoulder of her dress
Hope: Are you freaking serious?
John: (giggling) What?
Hope: We started dating 5 minutes ago and now you think I’m going to- do you think I’m THAT easy?
John: Mmmhmm.
Hope:
Give me a chance
Give me a break
Tell me the all this was never a mistake
Tell me why, John, tell me why, you want me this bad
Give me a way
Give me a day
Don’t spring this on me cause it’s something you crave
Tell me why, John, tell me why it’s all this mad
John: A minute ago-
Hope:
A minute ago you told me you wanted me all dolled up
You wanted me here, now you’re telling me
You want me lying beside you in bed
Is that what you want John, is that what you want?
John: Here me out, I-
Hope:
No, John enough with the chances you want me for things I will not give
John:
Hope, we’re fluent in the language of-
JOHN kisses HOPE, and HOPE pushes him off of her
John:
Love.
Hope: Are you serious? I’ve known you 5 minutes and you love me? You’re sick.
John: (giggling) LOVESICK!
JOHN kisses HOPE again and the door swings open as BREE stands in the door. HOPE pushes him off again.
Bree: What the hell.
John: Bree! Baby!
Hope: What?
Bree: You’re making out with my ex?!
Hope: What?! No he kissed-
John: We’re in love.
Hope: We are not in love.
Bree: I cannot believe this. Hope you could’ve had anyone.
Hope: I know I-
Bree: I’m going.
Hope: Where? This is your house?
Bree: I don’t know. Anywhere. Screw off, Hope. Just leave me alone.
BREE leaves the party, but stays still. Everything else fades away. The stage is now empty. She reaches in her purse and pulls out a bottle of pills. She takes 2. She sits down on the floor and begins to cry. In tears, she begins to sing.
Bree:
She’s a girl who only wanted something more
Boss after boss closing the same damn door
So she’s the one looking for pain
Using prescriptions to make her goddamn day
Crying for help
Crying for me
Crying just please
She’s trying to scream
She needs someone’s help
Maybe she’s born with it
Maybe it’s the price she was born to pay
Maybe she’s born with it
Maybe she’s born with it
Searching for everything for everything she never had
Boy after boy telling her she’s nothing but bad
Looking for a needle that’s lost in the hay
Using syringes to help her find her way
Crying for help
Crying for me
Crying just please
She’s trying to scream
She needs someone’s help
Maybe she’s born with it
Maybe it’s the price she was born to pay
Maybe she’s born with it
Maybe she’s born with it
I’m trying to scream
I need someones help
Crying just please
I’m trying to scream
I need someones help
Crying just please
Maybe she’s born with it
Maybe it’s the price she was born to pay
Maybe she’s born with it
Maybe she’s born with it
Maybe I’m born with it
BREE pulls out her phone. HOPE, LIZ and ALLY all appear far away on stage, on their phones.
Bree: I’m sorry
Hope: I’m sorry too.
Bree: I can’t do this anymore, I can’t.
Liz: Do what?
Bree: I can’t be a royal anymore. I’m done.
Hope: What? Is this because of me?
Bree: It’s because of everything and I-I just can’t do it anymore. Goodbye.
HOPE, LIZ, and ALLY join onstage.
Hope: I- I can’t believe it.
Ally: I can. She was never strong enough to be with us. She was the weak link.
Liz: I don’t think that’s true.
Ally: It’s true because I said it’s true.
Hope: That’s not how facts work.
Ally: Don’t test me, Hope Winter.
Hope: Why are you using my last name?
Ally: Because I can.
Liz: I don’t think you’re the boss of-
Ally: Oh I am, now. I was Bree’s second in command. And you know what happens to the second in command when the captain quits? C’mon Liz, even you can figure that out.
Liz: I’m not stupid.
Ally: Sure.
Hope: Who said you were second in command.
Ally: I did. And I’m the leader now.
Hope: But that’s not fair.
Ally: Okay newbie, listen up. You’re the baby of the group. You got initiated a week ago. I’ve been with the royals since 7th grade.
Liz: I’ve been Bree’s friend since 6th grade-
Ally: Say another word and you’re out.
Hope: Don’t treat her like that?
Ally: What are you gonna do about it?
Hope: I don’t know, but you’re-you’re a fake. You aren’t our leader, you’re just a jerk! You don’t even belong with the royals!
ALLY’S face turns red and she slaps HOPE across the face. HOPE puts her hand to her face.
Ally: Get out.
Hope: No, I-
Ally: GET OUT!
Blackout
Lights rise up on HOPE, alone on stage, rocking back and forth. She sings and gets more worried and angry and afraid as she sings until the end.
Hope:
I used to be a funny girl that everyone held dear
Now I'm trapped inside a world that isn't mine
Bree wants me to be someone who I'm not sure why'd I'd be
And John is dating someone, he's mine
I wanted to grow up so fast and now I'm feeling lost
The world is spinning faster than I know
The stars look down and don't like what they see
It's only high school c'mon hope how hard can it be?
But now I'm being hit with sharper blows
Chorus:
Who am I? Now that the world is crumbling.
And where were you, when I was feeling lost.
Maybe you thinking you had me
It the reason that I got away from you
I used to be the innocent girl, that everyone made seemed to like
Now I'm just the bitch (chick) who flips off boys
Ally said that I was fine, but I'm acting pretty shitty (silly)
For a girl who used to be so good
So good.
I wanted to grow up so fast and now I'm feeling lost
The world is spinning faster than I know
The stars look down and don't like what they see
It's only high school c'mon Hope how hard can it be?
But now I'm being hit with sharper blows
Who am I? Now that the world is crumbling. I am crumbling
And where were you, when I was feeling lost.
Maybe you thinking you had me
It the reason that I got away from you
The reason that I had to get away from you
Blackout
End of Act I